Bangkok 2017 - Dean & DeLuca at The MahaNakhon

The MahaNakhon is a 77-storey skyscraper in Bangkok that was designed by Ole Schereen, previously with OMA. The building is a slim glass tower with its smooth facade punctuated with pixelated design elements that become sky terraces and balconies. When I visited, the tower was undergoing its finishing touches. 

The main reason I visited the tower was for the Dean & DeLuca outlet at its base. Dean & DeLuca was once a venerated F&B brand in the US. After changing hands a few times - it landed in the hands of Thai business group Pace Development Corp. The chain has not been having much luck in recent years, however, their operation in Bangkok seems to be going strong. 

Like its flagship in New York, the Dean & DeLuca here is a high-end gourmet shop with dining areas attached. The centrepiece is a food bar with some delectable salads, charcuterie and seafood that you can take-away or dine-in. The products are all beautifully packaged and presented, and if I were a Bangkok resident this would probably be my second home.